Wednesday, November 17, 2010

After receiving an invitation to the Second Great American Local Poem And Song Genealogy Challenge, I immediately began reflecting on the poets in my family history, and Dr. Brewster Higley came immediately to mind. Granted he's a fourth cousin, five times removed, but still related nonetheless!

Dr. Brewster M. Higley wrote the following poem in 1873 while he was living in the cabin of his homestead on Beaver Creek, New Gaylord, Smith County, Kansas. At the urging of friends, he showed his verses to Dan Kelley, a member of the Harlan Brother orchestra. Kelley had been a bugler in the Union army during the Civil War and had the ability to compose music. On his way home, Kelley hummed while he thought about Dr. Higley's poem. Once home, he wrote down the notes on a piece of wrapping paper, and hummed the tune and played it on his violin until it was safely fixed in his mind. Click HERE to hear the song. Read more about it at NPR.org

The Western Home

Oh, give me a homeWhere the buffalo roamWhere the deer and the antelope play'Where seldom is heardA discouraging word,And the sky is not cloudy all day.

"Chorus"A home, a homeWhere the deer and the antelope play,Where never is heard a discouraging wordAnd the sky is not cloudy all day.Oh, give me land the landThere the bright diamond sandThrows its light on the glittering streamWhere glideth alongThe graceful white swamLike a maid in her heavenly dream.

Oh, give me the galeOf the Solomon valeWhere the life stream of buoyancy flowsOn the banks of the BeaverWhere seldom, if everAny poisonous herbage doth grow.

I love the wild flowersIn this bright land of ours,I love, too, the wild curler's screamThe bluffs and white rocksAnd antelope flocks,That graze on the mountain so green.

A home, a homeWhere the deer and the antelope play,Where never is heardA discouraging word,And the sky is not cloudy all day.

How often at nightWhen the heavens were brightBy the light of the twinkling stars,Have I stood here amazedAnd asked as I gazedIf there glory exceeds that of ours.

The air is so clear,The breeze so pure,The zephyr so balmy and light;I would not exchangeMy home here on rangeForever in assure so bright.

A home, a homeWhere the deer and the antelope play;Where never is heardA discouraging wordAnd the sky is not cloudy all day.(Thanks to the Kansas Heritage Group, http://www.kansasheritage.org)